Take the First Step

A Series on Living in the Wilderness: Part 2
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Luke 5:17-26; John 5:1-15 

[This is Part 2 in a series of looking at people who lived in the wilderness. Not necessarily the wilderness of nature, but the wilderness of life. In fact, there are times when we all feel like we are living in the wilderness. During those times, it’s important to remember that the Lord is faithful. That He loves you and is always with you.]

 

When we visited Brazil in 1983, we saw a beggar on the street who literally had no eyes. I don’t know how long he’d lived like that; how he got himself to and from his begging spot; if he had any other support to pay for his basic needs. All I knew was that he was on the street begging.

 

We know little more than that about the paralyzed man in Luke 5. We could speculate that, unable to take care of his basic needs, that he lived a life of extreme poverty; that he lived in a wilderness of isolation.

 

I wonder how he and his friends felt when, instead of healing him, Jesus forgave his sins. Were they confused or angry? Did they feel betrayed like it was a bait and switch? Did they wonder, like the Pharisees, “Who does this man think he is; only God can forgive sins”? Or were they thankful?

 

After forgiving the sins of the paralyzed man, Jesus said this to the Pharisees.

 

^23-24 Which is simpler: to say ‘I forgive your sins,’ or to say ‘Get up and start walking’? Well, just so it’s clear that I’m the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both. . . .” He now spoke directly to the paraplegic: “Get up. Take your bedroll and go home.”             NLT

 

When you’re living in the wilderness… is it better to have your sins forgiven, or to be healed? Typically, Jesus meets us where we’re at.

 

By that I mean, he responds to the felt needs that we have; to the struggles that we face. If you’re overwhelmed with anxiety, he brings peace. If you’re feeling rejected, he brings love and acceptance. If you’re suffering loss, he brings comfort and fulfillment.

 

There’s a story in John 5 about another man who is described as an invalid. In this story he was laying at the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem because it was said to have healing powers at certain times.

 

He had been an invalid for thirty-eight years - probably most, if not all of his life. Jesus asked him a question that seemed absurd, “Do you want to get well”? Sometimes, when you’ve had a debilitating problem for such a long time, you lose hope of ever being able to change.

 

No matter how long you’ve been living in the wilderness, or how debilitating your problem is, Jesus will meet you where you’re at. The first step is to ask him for help. Then he’ll do even more than you ask. Like the paraplegic, he’ll make you whole.

 

So go ahead – take the first step.

Copyright 2022 Joseph B Williams

 

 

 

Hit Upside the Head

A Series on God’s Call to Ministry

Acts 9:1-19

 (Use the link below to read the verses.)

[Preface: How do you know what your calling in life is? Will you know from a big bang experience? Or will it come quietly, almost imperceptible? Will you be inspired by the stories of a visiting missionary; or a book that opens your eyes to the needs of a specific people group; or from your own life experience? This series is about God’s call to ministry for your life; what it means or doesn’t mean.]

People are stubborn. Not you or me of course; but other people. Stubborn people have trouble admitting their problems; admitting that they need help. They also have trouble changing because, well… they’re stubborn; and proud; and rebellious. Like I said though – not you or me.

In order for someone who is stubborn to make a significant change, they have to get “hit upside the head”. What won’t get their attention, is a subtle suggestion or a gentle reminder. It has to be something monumental in order for them to really listen; to open their eyes; to see the light… like Saul.

³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” ⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”       NIV

^7-9 His companions stood there dumbstruck—they could hear the sound, but couldn’t see anyone—while Saul, picking himself up off the ground, found himself stone-blind. They had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus. He continued blind for three days. He ate nothing, drank nothing.                MSG

Saul was so passionate; so head strong; so stubborn about persecuting the church, that the only way Jesus could get his attention, was to literally knock him to the ground with a blinding flash of light. Jesus had to hit him upside the head.

Have you ever had an experience like that; where you were hit upside the head? I have; a few times. And it’s not fun; but it is necessary. Because, I am stubborn and proud, and don’t want to admit when I am wrong. This time… I am including you and me.

Therefore, the next time you feel like you’ve been hit upside the head, look around, not at your surrounding circumstances, but look upwards. Try to figure out what Jesus is doing; what he is trying to tell you; what he is calling you to do.

Good Guys Wear White Hats

Galatians 4:1-7

 

 

 

Rules are a part and parcel of our western world. If you break a rule, there are consequences, or at least there’s supposed to be. If you live by the rules, you’re considered a good guy. In terms of the old Western movies, you wear a white hat, because the bad guys, the rule breakers, wear black hats.

 

Paul knew well what it meant to live by the rules. In Philippians he referred to himself as, “a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless”. Paul lived according to the Law as well as anyone could. But it wasn’t enough.

 

Jesus spoke to the rich young ruler about the commandments. The ruler said that he had kept them all since he was a boy. You can hear his pride and self-righteousness in his words. But even before this exchange, Jesus had told him that only God is good. In other words, obeying the commandments can’t make you good. Uh oh. So much for white hats.

 

In Galatia, there were Judaizers, who were Jewish Christians. They believed that a number of the ceremonial practices of the Old Testament were still binding, and insisted that the Gentile believers abide by these, particularly circumcision. Paul responded in today’s passage with his attack on this belief.

 

“And that is the way it was with us before Christ came. We were slaves to Jewish laws and rituals, for we thought they could save us.  But when the right time came, the time God decided on, he sent his Son, born of a woman, born as a Jew,  to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law so that he could adopt us as his very own sons.”   Galatians 4:3-5 TLB

 

The Galatians, the rich young ruler and, before his conversion Paul, all thought that the Old Testament Law and rituals could save them. Clearly, that is not true. They are inferior to the freedom that we have that comes through Christ.

 

However, for us, it may not be the Jewish law and rituals, but our own set of rules and expectations; our own pride that leads to self-righteousness. Do we wear the right cloths; go to the right church; say the right things; pray in the right way? We have our own set of rules to make us feel like we wear a white hat, but that can enslave us in the same way that Paul described.

 

Bottom line: It’s not whether you wear a white hat or a black hat. It’s not about rules, but a relationship. It’s not about attending church, but being a child of God. It’s not about maintaining control, but surrendering control to Christ.